The blaze started in the kitchen and caused extensive smoke damage to a barber, baker and butcher which are in the same block of businesses as the cafe.

The Metropolitan Fire Service estimated the fire caused $300,000 damage but for the owners of the cafe, the blaze has put more than the future of the venue at risk.

Suzzanne Bonnici-Nerlich, a friend of the couple, started the gofundme campaign on Friday to try and help the partners get back on their feet.

“Over the past five years they have put their heart and soul into building this amazing little cafe that has been loved by locals and people afar,” Ms Bonnici-Nerlich said.

“On Wednesday their Yankee Cafe was completely destroyed by a fire, just 11 days before they were to handover to the new owners, and they discovered that their insurance doesn’t even start to cover the extensive damage done or their lost income.